Skip to content

A town square for an unsquare town

redbankgreen

Standing for the vitality of Red Bank, its community, and the fun we have together.

FOR TONIGHT: A CULTURAL CELEBRATION

edgar-sandovalJournalist and author Edgar Sandoval, a native of Mexico, spoke to Red Bank Middle School students Tuesday as part of the district’s Hispanic heritage celebration. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi; click to enlarge)

By DUSTIN RACIOPPI

Edgar Sandoval is just the kind of guy Red Bank school officials wanted to speak to students at the middle school during its celebration of Hispanic heritage. He emigrated to the United States from Mexico when he was 16, was a ‘C’ student and, with a little determination and hard work, found success as a journalist and author.

“He’s a living, breathing example of what we have here,” said middle school teacher Luz Nieves. “This is the example. This is what we need.”

Sandoval, a reporter for the New York Daily News, made a stop in Red Bank Tuesday to read from his book, “The New Face of Small-Town America: Snapshots of Latino Life in Allentown, Pennsylvania.” It’s a book that he said can easily be transposed to Red Bank, which has a growing Hispanic population among a mix of other cultures.

“This book is really about what it means to be you in a small town like Red Bank or Allentown, Pennsylvania,” Sandoval told students.

It tells the story of how people live and work in a small town traditionally dominated by non-Hispanic whites. But it also shows the similarities among the town’s different cultures, which is important, Sandoval noted, as the middle school is recognizing Hispanic heritage.

“I pretty much wanted to show what being Latino was all about, which is pretty much like everyone else,” he said.

Tonight, the school will host a larger-than-ever assembly and feast to showcase its diversity, with a focus on the Hispanic community.

Students from the primary and middle school will put on an assembly that is open to the public and includes songs and performances related to Hispanic culture. It will be followed by a feast in which more than 100 parents have donated food.

“This is like a big celebration,” said Damian Medina, the district’s bilingual and ESL coach.

After a two-year hiatus for the event, Medina revived it this year to make it bigger than ever by combining both schools’ efforts into one evening.

“We’re looking forward to a great show, and just to come together,” he said, “that’s the idea.”

The show gets started at 6p at the middle school.

Remember: Nothing makes a Red Bank friend happier than to hear "I saw you on Red Bank Green!"
redbankgreen Classics
Partyline
RBMS HOOPS CHAMPS HONORED
The Red Bank Middle School girls basketball team is honored for their championship season. (click for more)
NAVESINK SUNSET
Sunset sunburst over Riverside Gardens Park (photo by Partyline contributor Thomas Doremus)
RIVERSIDE SUNSET
Sunday’s sunset shot from Riverside Gardens Park. (Photo by Partyline contributor Thomas Doremus) —
MARINE PARK SUNSET
Stunning sunset from Red Bank's Marine Park.
GULLS AND GRAY OVER MOLLY PITCHER INN
On a cold rainy spring day, bulls soared high above the Navesink River and the golden cupola of Red Bank's Molly Pitcher Inn.
Red Bank Commuters Enjoy Stunning Sunrise Over Navesink River
Thursday morning sunrise over the Navesink River, a commuter view from NJ Transit Train 3320. (photo by Partyline contributor Karly Swaim) & ...
SUNRISE OVER MONMOUTH STREET
Sunrise over Monmouth Street Thursday morning (photo by Partline contributor Thomas Doremus)
FINAL STRAW FOR MARINE PARK REMAKE
Workers place a straw covering over the now-dirt (soon to be grass) stretch of Marine Park that had been an asphalt parking lot for generati ...
DEER IN RED BANK
Dear Friends –Original before GPT– Deer Friends
GHOSTBUSTERS ON MONMOUTH STREET
Ghostbusters vehicle spotted on Monmouth Street. (photo by Partyline contributor Roseann DalPra)
BOAT CLUB AND BATTLESHIP GREY
Monmouth Boat Club under the past weekend’s clouds. (Photo by Partyline contributor Thomas Doremus)    
CURBSIDE BLOOMS
Broad Street beautified. (photo and text by Partyline contributor Boris Kofman)  
NEW MURAL TAKES SHAPE AT CANNABIS SHOP
Red Bank artist Michael White, donning a hat fitting for the day of the New York Mets’ home opener, works on a new mural at Canopy Cro ...
CHERRY BLOSSOMS ABOUND IN RED BANK
Cherry blossoms are everywhere! (photo and text by Partyline contributor Boris Kofman)  
DOWNTOWN RED BANK ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON
Downtown on a Friday afternoon. (partyline Photo by Thomas Doremus)  
LIGHTS ON THE NAVESINK
Thursday’s post-sunset clouds over the Navesink (Partyline photo by Thomas Doremus)  
A SPRING IN THE STEP
A man walks carrying a bouquet of flowers beneath the blooming trees in Red Bank. (Partyline photo by John T. Ward)  
ROWING INTO SPRING
Beyond the magnolia trees in full bloom at the Red Bank Library, the Navesink River Rowing Advanced Youth Program heads out for their weekda ...
RED BANK GREEN VISITS AUSTRALIA
Publisher Kenny Katzgrau is representing Red Bank and Red Bank Green at the Local and Independent News Association Summit in Melbourne, Aust ...
MAGNOLIA IN BLOOM
My neighbors’ magnificent magnolia. (photo and text by Partyline contributor Raseann Dal Pra)